Author Dennis Lehane Offers To Name A Character After Whoever Finds His Dog

Nothing can replace a missing pet, which is why many people post rewards when their dog or cat goes astray, hoping that someone will find their animal and return them safe and sound. More than likely, people will offer a reward that's affordable to them. For novelist/screenwriter Dennis Lehane, what he has to offer in exchange for his missing dog may have a more lasting effect than some cash. The writer, who's known for Mystic River, Shutter Island and a number of other titles, is offering to name a character after the person who finds his lost beagle.

(Via EW) Lehane, who lives in the Boston area, posted the following message on his Facebook page.

One another, more urgent note, our recent and beloved rescue dog, Tessa, jumped the fence in Brookline and has been roaming through the wilds of Coolidge Corner for the last 24 hours. It's possible she's staying in some good Samaritan's home right now or has tucked herself away on a porch. But if anyone sees her or knows of her whereabouts, please reach out to this page. Here's a picture of her. She's smart, fast, and immeasurably sweet. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body. She's micro-chipped, but her tags were off when she was let out into the yard. Naming of character in the next book for anyone who gets her back to us! (No, really!) Again--Tessa, black-and-tan Beagle, 24 hours on the lam, sweet as all hell. Thank you!

As a book reader, I have to say, this is a pretty creative way to bring attention to the lost pet and reward someone for bringing her home. Assuming someone finds the dog and collects this reward, it'll be interesting to see how their name is worked into Lehane's next book.

As a pet owner, my heart goes out to Lehane, his family and Tessa. Hopefully we'll hear good news at some point in the near future that Tessa has been found and returned home. In the meantime, for those in the areas mentioned in Lehane's post, he invites people to reach out on this page with information if you see her or know where she might be.